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Saturday, 31 May 2014

But when ye pray, use not vain
repetitions, as the heathen do:for they think that they shall be
heard for their much speaking. (St Matthew 6:7)

You have heard them: The repetitions in
prayers and some time I can think they are funny. For example; Donuts
and biscuits are served and someone is asked to say a prayer then it
goes; ”Bless the refreshments to nourish and strengthen our bodies.
”

I do not know how much donuts
”strengthen” my body. I think you can thank our Lord for a great
snack and good company.

"Thank thee for all our many
blessings." Yeah we do have blessings but this is a passive way
to say it. A grateful heart comes through expressing gratitude to our
Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that
they bring into our lives. I am grateful today for certain things.
Counting my blessings is for me not for my Heavenly Father. If I even
have to count them.

Another prayer I have heard; "Bless
that we will travel home in safety." I do not have a car and to
drive in a safe way is for me obiously. But what do you do with a
car? Do you take extra caution when driving? If it's late, do you
offer rides to those who might have to walk? Do you pray for the
busdriver?

Any prayer from a sincere heart is
great and phrases are repeated with good intentions. But friends
remember our communication with our Father is so simple. And He has a
kind of humour. Just be honest in your prayers. In my next blogpost I
will talk more about this.

Saturday, 24 May 2014

Today I attended the European Forum of
LGBT Christian groups mass in the Church of Alppila, Helsinki.

Sermon (lutheran) Bishop Irja Askola stated that ”welcome” is the most beautiful word from our Lord.

In her words:

”I wish you feel welcome, very welcome, in our whole Church and in this Diocese. You carry with you something, which we need in our Church. The wisdom to be sensitive to all those, who have struggled to be accepted. To hear the voices, which have been ignored or recognize the beauty, which has been forbidden to be appreciated.”

Irja Askola

I felt welcomed. I also as a gay mormon feel welcomed in my own ward, by my bishop and by brothers and sisters.

There was a situation when an anonymus person sent me, and our bishop e-mails saying that I am not a worthy member in the church being homosexual. We talked about it with the Bishop and he brought up our churchs view in a fifth sunday lesson. I am thankful for that and I have many times in my heart forgiven the person sending the e-mails.

With love and understanding our Church reaches out to all God´s children, including our homosexual brothers and sisters.

Wednesday, 21 May 2014

One of the most important persons in my
life is leaving Finland tomorrow. Elder C. The missionary that
baptized me, the missionary that spoked to me the words our Father
had told him to speak.

”Which things also we speak, not in
the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1
Corinthians 2:13)

But also a person that became a true
friend. A person with whom I could naturally share who I am and what
is most important to me. I could tell him my story without being
shameful of my truth and he was able to witness how our Savior made
me new.

Our final meeting did not however
turned out the way it was planned. I met him with his Mission
Companions and I was looking forward to continue our discussion where
we left the last time I saw him and then say some kind of a proper
farewell even though I am very bad at goodbyes.

Then it turned out that Elder C had
left his wallet on the bus. Now our meeting became an issue of a
practical problem; to get his wallet back. I said a silent prayer and
trusted in our Lord that things would work out. And it did finally. A
person had found the wallet and called the Missonaries and they
decided to meet on Alberga train station in an hour. Since Elder C
had his buscard in his wallet I went along on the bus to the station
paying his fee with my card.

Then we waited on a crowdy station. Not
a place to continue the discussion that I wanted us to continue. Not
a good place to find the right words to say a proper farewell. To
tell Elder C how much he had meant to me. All I said was: ”You know
that you have ment a lot to me, as a missonary and as a person” and
he replied ” I know”.

The person that had found Elder C:s
wallet turned up to give it back but the clock was ticking. Elder
C and his Missonary Companions had their own schedule and they were in a hurry to
their next meeting. It turned out that I could take the same train
home that they had to take to the church. So I did. When I jumped of
the train and they continued their journey Elder C gave me a friendly
tap on my shoulder. I wanted to turn around and say something but the
tears in my eyes made it impossible for me. I just felt that this was
not the way our final meeting was supposed to be. So many things I
stil wanted to share. A smile I wanted to give.

But later
that day my tears turned into tears of joy as I remembered the last
speach that elder C had in our ward. There he brought up the Parable
of the Lost Sheep found in Luke 15.

”And when
he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when
he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which
was lost. ” (Luke 15:5-6).

As in the case with elder C:s wallet I
once was lost but found and remembering that made me realize the most
important thing he had done to me. Sharing the gospel. And i know
that by seeing the impact of the gospel in our lives and sharing the
good news in everyday evangelistic conversations, friends are invited
to brothers and sisters through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Our final meeting turned out to be a
good reminder and the words I didn´t tell him was in the end not
that important.

Monday, 5 May 2014

Sometimes
I have seen myself as not beautiful. Years ago. But not anymore. We
all have a inner beauty. And the hidden and inner beauty comes also
from our friends and beloved. As a mirror of self-improvence. Our
Father in heaven also want us to see our inner beauty.

"But
the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the
height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the
Lord
seeth
not
as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord
looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)